Types of Hepatitis

Hepatitis can be categorized as either acute or chronic.

Acute Hepatitis

Acute Hepatitis occurs suddenly or gradually, but in either case it is short-lived, usually lasting less than two months. For someone with acute Hepatitis, liver damage is usually mild.

On rare occasions, acute Hepatitis can be fatal. In some circumstances, acute Hepatitis can progress to chronic Hepatitis.

Chronic Hepatitis

Chronic Hepatitis persists for long periods of time and is classified as either chronic persistent or chronic acute. Chronic persistent Hepatitis is usually mild and progresses slowly. However, it can become more severe, progressing to chronic acute Hepatitis. As liver damage becomes more extensive and severe, chronic acute Hepatitis can cause cirrhosis, most often resulting in liver failure and even death.

Viral causes of Hepatitis

There are seven viruses that are known to cause Hepatitis. These are designated by the letters A to G. However, the cause of some Hepatitis is still unknown, leading scientists to believe there are other viruses that have yet to be discovered.

The three most common viral forms of Hepatitis are:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C.

The other forms of Hepatitis - D, E, F and G - are very rare.